Really, you don’t say??
Aug 20, 2008 NHL
Sabres.com has an article up about our new backup goalie, Patrick Lalime, and it also has some choice quotes that add to the point in my last blog post - players around the league seem to think this is an OK desination in free agency:
“Everybody I talked to around the league told me about the city,” he said. “They said it was a great place to live and raise a family; the schools are great, the fans are great. It sounded like a good deal for me.”
Among those he consulted were former Sabres netminders Martin Biron, and Jocelyn Thibault, as well as forward J.P. Dumont.
“They told me that it’s the kind of place that once you go there, you just want to stay,” Lalime said. “Overall, it just seemed right.”
In the immortal words of Mike Sakasegawa, RIGHT ON.
Tags: buffalo, dumon, Hockey, lalime, Martin Biron, NHL, sabres, thibault
Ryan Miller Signs Five-Year Deal
Jul 18, 2008 NHL
Thanks to Getty Images
According to Sabres.com, Ryan Miller has signed a five-year contract, which will keep him here through 2013-2014. Terms were not disclosed. Now it’s down to Pominville. :D
Adding my own thoughts, well, this is fantastic! Miller is a very solid goalie who got worked over last year. If the team commits to playing Lalime for more than the 6 games or whatever Thibault had last season, I’m thinking Miller will have a great season. Some of my enthusiasm might get tempered once the numbers on this deal are out, but they needed to make this move.
edit: 5 years, $31.25 million as per WGR.
Tags: buffalo, Hockey, lalime, NHL, Ryan Miller, sabres, signing, thibault
Ruff Makes His Point
Apr 6, 2008 NHL
The Buffalo Sabres ended their season on a high note, shutting out the Boston Bruins 3-0. Jocelyn Thibault got the shutout, and Thomas Vanek (thanks to some unselfish play from Derek Roy) had all three goals for the natural hat trick. Coach Ruff had the team playing a boring, defensive game to make a point - every team can win like that, but they don’t want to do it. I certainly enjoy the outstanding offensive plays for the past few years, and am okay with the only shutouts being the ones where the goaltending is awesomely good.
I’ll have a complete rundown of my thoughts on the season in a few days. Oh, and congratulations to Teppo Numminen on his return to the ice!
Tags: B-Lo Sports, boston, bruins, Hockey, NHL, numminen, roy, ruff, sabres, thibault, Thomas Vanek
No Playoffs for the Sabres
Apr 4, 2008 NHL
Buffalo was beaten 3-1 by the Montreal Canadiens last night, thus ending all hopes of sneaking in to the playoffs. The Sabres (as has happened numerous times this year) did not play a complete 60 minute game and it cost them. Ales Kotalik scored the only Sabre goal on the power play with 8 minutes left in the game. Miller was on the bench also for that, a gamble that paid off but they couldn’t get anything before or after. Habs goalie Carey Price was excellent, it really looks like they picked the right guy to put their hopes in.
Buffalo has one more game left to close out the season, facing off against the Boston Bruins. Wonder if we’ll see Thibault or Numminen for that one.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Canadiens, Hockey, kotalik, Montreal, NHL, numminen, price, Ryan Miller, sabres, thibault
Enroth > Thibault?
I was checking out Sabres Prospects to see what the Sabres’ farm system is up to, and I came across the following in their spring rankings:
With SSK failing to qualify for the playoffs, it is believed that the Sabres are talking contract with Enroth’s camp. Jocelyn Thibault has been a sub-par backup, and Adam Dennis isn’t quite ready for NHL pucks. It all adds up to Enroth offering a competitive nudge to Ryan Miller as the incumbent enters the final year of his deal.
I watched Enroth at the World Juniors, and he looked very good. I’d love to see him over here to give Miller some time off, even if it’s not until next year. It would require them to put some trust in him, though, and this group of management/coaches are not big on trusting the backup goalie. I find that odd, by the way, considering how much trust they put in these callups at times.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, elitserien, enroth, Hockey, NHL, Ryan Miller, sabres, ssk, sweden, thibault
Sabres Pounce on Predators 8-4
Feb 27, 2008 NHL
Steve Bernier didn’t take long to make an impression on Buffalo Sabres fans, scoring the first two goals of the game and adding an assist as the Sabres pounded the Preds 8 to 4. Bernier’s hard charging play set the tone for the team, as they played one of their most physical games of the year.
Paille had the third goal of the game shortly into the second period after Miller stopped Scott Nichol on a penalty shot, but then a scary play in front of the Sabres net gave the Preds some life. Marek Zidlicky ripped a point shot square off Ryan Miller’s mask, causing part of it to dislodge and smack into his nose. Newly acquired Predator Jan Hlavac put home the rebound before the play was whistled dead. Jocelyn Thibault let two goals in during his time in relief, but to be fair they were both tough shots. Lydman got down to block the first but then inexplicably got back up and let the shot through, eluding T-bo. The Preds then got several chances at a rebound in front of the net and put it home.
Andrew Peters had the next goal for the Sabres, thanks to serious work behind the net by Mair and Kaleta. The Kaleta made a sweet backhand pass to the slot and Peters put it in like he’s done it way more than the 4 times in his career. Arnott scored a PPG to cut the lead back to one, but Pominville and Roy scored to finish off the second period and put things back out of reach. Legwand for the Preds, and Connolly and Kotalik for the Sabres finished the scoring in the third.
There was no love lost between the teams, thanks to their last game wherein Scott Nichol sucker-punched Spacek and earned a suspension. Nichol ran The Kaleta into the boards early, garnering a penalty (and further attention later on). Roy and Fiddler jousted as well, but the true rough stuff came in the third. Andrew Peters took on Darcy Hordichuk, and Adam Mair fought Jordin Tootoo one second later on the next faceoff.
The big scrum came toward the end of the game, as Kaleta and Fiddler got into it well behind the play. Radulov had an elbowing major in there somewhere too. Scott Nichol came in as the third man in and sucker-punched Kaleta in the back of the head. All bets were off then as Kalinin stepped in to pull Nichol out. Gaustad sought Nichol out on the next faceoff where Nichol was on the ice and slammed him to the ice, challenging for the fight but getting separated before it could happen. It was basically insanity out there, but you have to LOVE the boys standing up for themselves all night and pushing back as much as they were pushed. A very well deserved two points.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, connolly, fiddler, fight, gaustad, hlavac, Hockey, hordichuk, Jason Arnott, kaleta, kotalik, legwand, mair, NHL, nichol, paille, peters, pominville, roy, Ryan Miller, sabres, Steve Bernier, thibault, tootoo, zidlicky
Miller Injured in Shootout Loss to Thrashers
Feb 2, 2008 NHL
To be honest, as soon as Miller went down in the second period, I sort of stopped worrying about the outcome of the game. I thought Ryan’s bell had just been rung by hitting his helmet on the post, but when you watch the replay, you see him react a few seconds AFTER that…and unfortunately, it reminds of when Hasek got injured in the Olympics a few years back (down for a save, head jerks back in obvious sharp pain). More will be known today, and I hope it’s not so serious as that.
As for the game, the Thrashers came out swinging early, getting the 2 goal lead in the first period. However, the second period was all Buffalo as they scored 3 goals. The first was a blast from Spacek at the point on the power play that was redirected by Jochen Hecht. Pominville netted the next one, and they took the lead on a sweet pass from Derek Roy out to Dan Paille who was left alone for the easy shot.
The Thrashers tied it early in the third on a goal from Jim Slater, after Thibault came out to replace Miller. Kalinin gave Buffalo the lead back a few minutes later on the power play, but Tobias Enstrom sent the game to OT with 17 seconds to go. The Sabres were down 2 men for a 6 on 3 disadvantage (with Hedberg on the bench). Hard to blame T-bo for that. The OT session was one big PK for the Sabres, and the shootout was ended in the 4th round. T-bo made some good saves to get it that far, but the Sabres could not get one past Hedberg.
I want to go all positive on you guys, what with 5 out of 6 points, better scoring (including D involvement, 2 PPGs) and all, but the injuries worry me. Miller, obviously, is a cornerstone. The Sabres cannot push for the playoffs without him. I thought I heard mention of a shoulder injury for Spacek, and then there are the guys already down.
I would like to give special recognition to Derek Roy, he was outstanding last night at both ends. Also to the refs, for missing multiple calls, possibly calling a no goal that should’ve counted on Gaustad’s ‘interference’ of Hedberg. I still don’t know how they can call a no goal but not the penalty. Roy got a stick to the face that went uncalled also.
The Sabres next play on Tuesday, so maybe some of these guys will be okay by then.
Tags: atlanta, B-Lo Sports, hecht, hedberg, Hockey, injury, kalinin, NHL, paille, roy, Ryan Miller, sabres, slater, Spacek, thibault, thrashers
Sabres Get The Point At Sens
Jan 11, 2008 NHL
Hey, it’s my right to go for the easy pun. The Sabres came from 2 goals down to tie the game in the third period, and forced yet another shootout. Clarke MacArthur and Dan Paille scored in regulation. They came back without Jaroslav Spacek, however, who had back spasms after the first period. He had a go at it in the second but couldn’t do it. With Lydman taking up permanent residence in the penalty box (stick on the ice Loods!), the Sabres had to kill 4 minutes with 4 D-men.
The Senators got on the board 24 seconds into the second period, with Shean Donovan scoring the goal on a break. Alfie burned the Sabres suddenly struggling power play for a shorty late in the period. I want to give some credit to Jocelyn Thibault, who made some great highlight-reel saves. There seemed to be some lucky bounces for Buffalo, too, which is good to see. Haven’t been getting many of those.
The shootout went past the usual 3 rounds, with Mike Fisher scoring the first goal in the fourth round. It fell to Thomas Vanek to extend the game…and he NAILED IT. It was good to see, as he had some misses during the game again but might just be getting some confidence. The Sens ended it 2 rounds later however, when Dean McAmmond beat Thibault and Hecht could not put on past Gerber.
This was another solid performance for the Sabres, aside from penalty trouble they got in. Oh yeah, Gaustad had a spirited fight with the hated Chris Neil. Both got some solid shots in, I wish guys like Goose and Mair would go some more. We’ve got more of the same on Saturday as the Sabres play the Devils yet again.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, donovan, fisher, gaustad, gerber, Hockey, injury, lydman, macarthur, mcammond, neil, NHL, ottawa, paille, sabres, senators, Spacek, thibault, Thomas Vanek
Gameday - Senators at Sabres
Jan 10, 2008 NHL
Yet another game against the Senators. Is anyone as excited as I am? Thought so. On the plus side, I thought the Sabres looked quite good at the end of the last game against the Devils, despite the shootout flubs. The lineup will most likely be the same, as Roy, Paille and Afinogenov are all still on the shelf. We should get another dose of Kaleta and MacArthur which will not be a bad thing. Jocelyn Thibault will get the start in place of Ryan Miller tonight, let’s hope the D in front of him is strong. No lazy passes today, okay guys? 7:30 start time tonight in Ottawa.
edit: Tim Connolly is out for tonight, but Paille is back. Pratt will stay in the lineup with Paetsch a healthy scratch.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Hockey, injury, kaleta, macarthur, Maxim Afinogenov, NHL, ottawa, paille, roy, sabres, senators, thibault
Sabres Rally Not Enough
Jan 6, 2008 NHL
The Sabres lost their fifth straight game on Friday, getting beat by the Sens 5-3. They go down 3-0 before scoring three straight to tie (Kotalik, Hecht and Ryan with some great passing from Vanek) but could not hold on. Ryan Miller was pulled, mostly to get him out from behind a porous D. The Sabres will try to pick up the pieces on Sunday as they face the Thrashers, who they shut out 6-0 back in October.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, hecht, Hockey, kotalik, NHL, ottawa, ryan, Ryan Miller, sabres, senators, thibault, Thomas Vanek
